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Upon reflect on the year gone by, a selection of outstanding feature-length stories emerges. Such accounts delve into complex themes ranging from geopolitical intrigue and historical revelations to deeply personal journeys.

A Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country

An author became known in the nineties with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. Although many of his writer contemporaries have encountered censorship or left the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. This prompts a key question: Has he become an supporter for the establishment?

Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict

The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his only route to escape incarceration was to join the government military. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers might now cost him his life.

A Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings

The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally rewriting the narrative of our species. But, a faction was convinced. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has taken over the careers of scholars ever since.

The British Cult That Hid in the Open

Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the disturbing breadth of exploitation it had perpetrated.

The Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on Human Rights

Numerous supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's dedication to international law. However, the record over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.

Breaking a Country's Identity

A documentary featuring a remorseful con artist as she ensnares corrupt clients with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is she truly changed, and is the director's own motives?

A Person Who Cleans Britain's Darkest Stains

From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their stickiest hours, families turn to him to bring back normalcy.

Will an Iconic Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Plagued by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Severe Pregnancy

Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable medical remedy – up until possibly now.

The Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideology permeate the very highest echelons of the state.

The English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret

With his sharp intellect and sterling credentials, it's no surprise that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get suspicious.

A Tiny Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Center

An incredibly rich Gulf state has transformed into a significant player on the international scene, working to solve some of the most long-standing disputes. What are driving this ambitious endeavor?

An Inside Look at a President Preparing for Global Summitry

Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron enjoys the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.

Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case

How did the child of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?

The End of a Global Aid Organization: Not Universal Regret

When actions were made to dismantle a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.

The Shocking 1960s Study on Indian Women

When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread shock. But the precise truth of what happened remains somewhat shrouded.

The "Genius" of the Online Economy

He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and distributed vast sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever entertainment – or works of daring brilliance?

Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Seas

With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the prospect that their islands may soon be submerged. The critical issue is: Where are they supposed to go?

One Heartbreaking Case of Youth Destitution

As I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his situation might change for the better. That hope was devastatingly misplaced.

The International AI Race and a Key Defection

In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he might hold the key to who wins the global technological rivalry.

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